Things We Couldn't Say

While frequent commenter to this blog, Jewels, may be enjoying the Netherlands in person this week, we "traveled" there this weekend courtesy of Master Arts Theatre and its production of Things We Couldn't Say by Diet Eman.

The play is an adaptation of Ms. Eman's book of the same title, which is on my list of "must reads" in the near future. I'm thankful that director Pris McDonald and the actors and actresses have brought this story of true heroism, sacrificial love, and godly faith to the stage to a culture that has lost sight of what true heroism is.

Diet was 20 years old and engaged to the love of her life when Hitler's troops invaded the Netherlands in 1940. One of Diet's co-workers, a Jew, received notice that he and his family were to report with a small suitcase to a designated place. Diet's awareness of his predicament forced her and her fiance into action. Hein, her fiance, told her, "If we don't do anything, when this is all over, we won't be able to look each other in the eye."

They both became involved in the Dutch Resistance, and eventually both were arrested and sent to prison camps. In the play, an older Diet is recalling her experiences for her biographer. As she recounts her story, the younger Diet of World War II and her fiance, Hein, step on stage to let us "see" the story unfold.

It is a love story--love for God, the love Diet and Hein shared, and love of country. It is also a sad story of pain, suffering, and loss. But it is a timely story for those of us living in the twenty-first century, where the threat is no longer a German madman but those who worship Allah and would have the rest of the world do so as well.

We are reminded, through Diet's story, of the cost of freedom and the selflessness of those who are willing to give themselves to protect and defend it. In the audience with us were many who lived in the Netherlands during that terrible war and many World War II veterans who had experienced the terror firsthand. It made the experience all the more poignant to know that we were observing this story with those who had actually lived it. While Jonathan, at nearly 14, looked to be the youngest person in the audience, it is a story that more children should see, so that they can learn and remember that there is a struggle between good and evil, and it is a war that must be fought.

The play will be performed the next two weekends at Master Arts Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with Saturday afternoon matinees both weekends. It's a moving and valuable experience, and I highly recommend it.